Anyone ever delivered to their local store from Virgin Megastores site?

Basq

This is posted in Consumer Issues but might get more of a response here as BA is much more popular and need to narrow down somewhere who actually has done the following. Very "un-mod" like i know!

Anyways.. i was on the VirginMegastores.co.uk site and i noticed there's a option on check-out to deliver to your local store. And lo-and-behold, it had a listing for my local store (Sligo).

So has anyone done this?

And is it as clear cut as you paying for the product via your credit card on the site, and then getting a receipt / reference number (or whatever.. i assume there's some reference for you to hand up at the counter in your local store) and them handing the product to you.

As i can buy it for about €90 on the UK site (about £65) and have it sent over.

But buying it in store will no doubt cost me at least €100 - €110 judging by the RRP elsewhere.

Mr E

Post reported for being off topic!
Let the mods take care of you....... Oh.... wait.....

Interesting idea though. Never spotted that option when I bought Scene It.
Any way they could screw you for the balance?

Canonfan

I tried to get something delivered to Virgin Dundrum store but when I entered the correct address I got error message saying that the address is too long, WTF.

Basq

Mr E wrote: »

Interesting idea though. Never spotted that option when I bought Scene It.
Any way they could screw you for the balance?

Yeah, that's what i'm unsure about.

Canonfan wrote: »

I tried to get something delivered to Virgin Dundrum store but when I entered the correct address I got error message saying that the address is too long, WTF.

Well, you now choose your store from a list so no need in enter in their address.

Am half tempted to order Guitar Hero to save at least €20

AlmightyCushion

I can't see how they could charge you for the balance if you've already paid for it. You aren't buying the product from Virgin Sligo you are buying it from the site and they are delivering it to the store for you. Saying that though you never know. I really hope they don't charge for the balance, this could be very handy.

Basq

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

I can't see how they could charge you for the balance if you've already paid for it. You aren't buying the product from Virgin Sligo you are buying it from the site and they are delivering it to the store for you. Saying that though you never know. I really hope they don't charge for the balance, this could be very handy.

Yeah.. that's true. You do give your credit card details on the site so i'd imagine they can't really charge you.

And yes, very handy indeed as we occassionally get screwed when they mark upwards from the euro equivalent in sterling.

I might give it a shot but like i said, i would like to hear from anyone who's done it before i go ahead.

mcgovern

They've been advertising in-store and on receipts alot recently that you can order online and pick-up from the store.
Only problem was they were advertising virgin.co.ie which of course doesn't exist.

Basq

Feck it.. i'm gonna take and plunge and do it anyways!

Will let ye know how i get on.

banchang

Wouldn't it be simpler to get it shipped to your home ?


Or does this save you the shipping ?

Brian017

banchang wrote: »

Wouldn't it be simpler to get it shipped to your home ?


Or does this save you the shipping ?

That's what I thought or am I missing something?

Thirdfox

Disclaimer: the following is not legal advice and should not be construed as such.

Just as someone who's studying contract law right now; it would seem that your contract for sale is with Virgin Megastore.co.uk. The transaction has been completed, consideration has been acquired, there is intention to bind and the sale finalised. Virgin Sligo seems to have very little say except to give you your box of stuff. Unless they explicitly state that they cannot ship to Sligo or something (or if the sale had conditions that you have to pay the equivalent of the local prices).

But it would seem from what you say that there shouldn't be a problem...

Disclaimer: The statement above is not legal advice and should not be construed as such always seek professional legal advice in case of doubt. See your doctor if a rash occurs after use. <- statement not medical advice either

banchang

Thirdfox- maybe you have come to this chapter in Contract Law or not - but I suggest the VAT angle needs to be considered here.

My view is that it will not be possible to do this due to VAT issues - could be wrong, but the way these (different legal) entities work, if they are suppying goods or services here (in Sligo or anywhere in ROI) they will have to charge Irish VAT, which will result in a difference compared to what was in the makeup of the web price.

I expect that there are tax evasion provisions to prevent VAT rate arbitrage between the two fiscal jurisdictions.

Thirdfox

Virgin megastores is located in the UK which is in the EU. No VAT or duty needs to be paid for inter-EU transactions (don't say brussels never did anything for you )

This is not the case when you get items shipped from outside the EU (the US and Asia being the common centres where people do get stung by customs)...doing EU law too right now

disclaimer: just read my signature!

JMcL

Thirdfox wrote: »

Virgin megastores is located in the UK which is in the EU. No VAT or duty needs to be paid for inter-EU transactions (don't say brussels never did anything for you )

Only up to a certain level of turnover though. If company X located in country A does over a certain threshold of business with customers in country B, then they are obliged to collect VAT at country B's rate. Not sure off the top of my head what the threshold is, but it's not that high.

Beano

The vat angle definitely needs to be considered. I know when I order stuff from amazon.co.uk that the price i pay is slightly higher because they charge me irish vat instead of english vat.

Talisman

basquille: I was considering doing this a few weeks back but didn't bother when I noticed that they added on the £2 per item delivery charge on the website whether you got it in the local store or delivered to your address. My attitude was if they are going to charge me for it then they may as well incur the cost of the delivery to the house.

banchang

Thirdfox wrote: »

Virgin megastores is located in the UK which is in the EU. No VAT or duty needs to be paid for inter-EU transactions (don't say brussels never did anything for you )

This is not the case when you get items shipped from outside the EU (the US and Asia being the common centres where people do get stung by customs)...doing EU law too right now

disclaimer: just read my signature!

Don't understand this point. VAT needs to be paid somewhere.

And that is where the goods or services are delivered.

If it is coming out of the stock of the local Virgin, then it is being retailed in ROI, then ROI VAT will need to be levied. Even if it is being shipped from Virgin in UK to Virgin Sligo, Virgin Sligo are still adding value as retailers & local VAT would apply.

I am sorry but I cannot see this working.

I'd just get it shipped to my home.

Gran Hermano

Shipping from the Virgin website to my home in Dublin is pretty quick.
They shipped Assassin's Creed last Thursday and I had it on the Monday
morning - for comparison thats much faster than Play.com usually are.

Thirdfox

banchang wrote: »

Don't understand this point. VAT needs to be paid somewhere.

And that is where the goods or services are delivered.

If it is coming out of the stock of the local Virgin, then it is being retailed in ROI, then ROI VAT will need to be levied. Even if it is being shipped from Virgin in UK to Virgin Sligo, Virgin Sligo are still adding value as retailers & local VAT would apply...

Yes sorry, it seems like I was unclear in my last post - Vat does have to be paid. But if you are ordering from the UK then the VAT should be applied at the point of sale and you will be charged the English VAT rate. Unless they have terms and conditions stating that for Irish customers there is a seperate pricing system (which may be inconsistent with EU free trade laws too unless justified i.e. extra shipping charge).

I do not believe that Virgin Sligo can add VAT without breaking the law. If you could point out the relevant legislation where it states that they could do so I would be happy to learn something new about tax law.

Thirdfox

JMcL wrote: »

Only up to a certain level of turnover though. If company X located in country A does over a certain threshold of business with customers in country B, then they are obliged to collect VAT at country B's rate. Not sure off the top of my head what the threshold is, but it's not that high.

Camera equipment costing thousands of euro have been bought and the foreign VAT charged (see buying camera lenses from Germany). Perhaps the provision you're referring to is relevant only for businesses? Private consumers probably would have at the very least a higher threshold (of at least a few thousand) or maybe no limit.

banchang

Thirdfox wrote: »

Yes sorry, it seems like I was unclear in my last post - Vat does have to be paid. But if you are ordering from the UK then the VAT should be applied at the point of sale and you will be charged the English VAT rate. Unless they have terms and conditions stating that for Irish customers there is a seperate pricing system (which may be inconsistent with EU free trade laws too unless justified i.e. extra shipping charge).

I do not believe that Virgin Sligo can add VAT without breaking the law. If you could point out the relevant legislation where it states that they could do so I would be happy to learn something new about tax law.

I'm not suggesting that VAT should be charged on VAT. I am saying, & taking your point, that if Virgin Sligo handles (& in the process, adds value to) it, the point of sale moves to ROI. in which case ROI VAT must be charged, by law. So I am not saying that VAT should be charged on VAT, I am saying that this service will not fly across fiscal jurisdictions - my guess is that it is an oversight which will be addressed.

justsomebloke

banchang wrote: »

Don't understand this point. VAT needs to be paid somewhere.

And that is where the goods or services are delivered.

If it is coming out of the stock of the local Virgin, then it is being retailed in ROI, then ROI VAT will need to be levied. Even if it is being shipped from Virgin in UK to Virgin Sligo, Virgin Sligo are still adding value as retailers & local VAT would apply.

I am sorry but I cannot see this working.

I'd just get it shipped to my home.

but the sligo store aren't selling anything, they are just being used as a pick up point

parsi

Thirdfox wrote: »

Camera equipment costing thousands of euro have been bought and the foreign VAT charged (see buying camera lenses from Germany). Perhaps the provision you're referring to is relevant only for businesses? Private consumers probably would have at the very least a higher threshold (of at least a few thousand) or maybe no limit.

Maybe you could continue reading your books..

The Threshold lies with the retailer and not the consumer. Hence the fact that a few years ago Amazon.de suddenly started charging Irish VAT rates for Irish consumers as they had reached the Threshold. This was handy as Irish Vat is 0% for books...

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/leaflets/vat_distance_sales.htm

Thirdfox

parsi wrote: »

Maybe you could continue reading your books..

The Threshold lies with the retailer and not the consumer. Hence the fact that a few years ago Amazon.de suddenly started charging Irish VAT rates for Irish consumers as they had reached the Threshold. This was handy as Irish Vat is 0% for books...

http://www.revenue.ie/index.htm?/leaflets/vat_distance_sales.htm

Thanks for the link - this would explain why German bought camera lenses seem to be exempt from Irish VAT - the company probably hasn't sold €35,000 worth of goods to Irish customers.

I don't study tax law yet but was stating the general principle that there is a special freedom of movement on goods within the EU state (the threshold is still better than the automatic adding of VAT and duty when importing from non-EU countries). And that's why I always say that what I'm writing is just my opinion, not to be taken as anything concrete.